CAPTIONING
DECEMBER 17, 2009
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION



***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the 
***following meeting.  It should be used for informational 
***purposes only.  This document has not been edited; 
***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words 
***that did not translate.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE 
DECEMBER 17th MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 
COMMISSION.
WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE AND INVOCATION.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
ON THIS DAY IN 1963 IT WAS PRESIDENT JOHNSON WHO SIGNED THE 
CLEAN AIR ACT WHICH WE ALSO BENEFIT FROM IN OUR SOCIETY AND 
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IT WAS ALSO IN 1903 THAT THE WORLD 
WAS -- WAS NOTED FOR THE FIRST FLIGHT BY THE WRIGHT 
BROTHERS.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THESE WHO WERE BRAVE, WHO STOOD 
APART, STOOD UP AND BEYOND AND WHO BRAVED THE SKIES, WHO 
BRAVED TO STAND THEIR GROUND AND BASE THEIR OPINIONS.
WE ASK YOU TO HELP US TODAY AS WE EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS AND 
INTEREST IN MANNERS IN A WAY THAT PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT 
AND OUR COMMUNITY.
FATHER, HELP ME TO CONDUCT MYSELF IN A MANNER THAT'S 
CONSISTENT WITH YOUR TEACHING.
AMEN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  DR. GARRITY, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO 
THE AGENDA OR REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT.
>>RICK GARRITY:  GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER HAD MENTIONED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO 
PULL ITEM 3-F FOR DISCUSSION, AND THAT -- THE BEST PLACE 
PROBABLY TO DISCUSS THAT WOULD BE WHEN WE TAKE UP ITEM 5-B, 
SINCE THEY'RE RELATED.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  OKAY.
ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST 
SOMETHING.
I -- I HAVE PLANS TO ATTEND COUNCILMAN MIRANDA'S WIFE'S 
FUNERAL THIS MORNING, SO BECAUSE SOME OF THE AGENDA ITEMS 
FURTHER DOWN ON THE AGENDA WILL REQUIRE A VOTE, I WOULD ASK 
THAT WE MOVE ITEM 4, WHICH IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S 
SECTION, TO THE END OF THE AGENDA, AND THEN HOPEFULLY 
THAT'LL GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME SO I CAN BE PRESENT FOR THE 
SUBSTANTIVE ITEMS THAT REQUIRE A VOTE, AND I THINK I NEED 
TO ASK THAT OF YOU AND OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  I NEED A SECOND.
>>JIM NORMAN:  CAN I -- WELL, CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT 
OTHER MEMBERS THAT -- IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT 
TIME YOU HAD TO LEAVE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  10:00.
>>JIM NORMAN:  OH, OKAY.
THAT WE -- IS ANYBODY ELSE COMING BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE 
A QUORUM.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AND THAT'S ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM FOR THE NONVOTING SECTIONS, 
THAT'S OKAY; RIGHT?
>>JIM NORMAN:  YEAH.
IF WE COULD JUST GET ANYTHING OUT OF THE WAY UP FRONT --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT REQUIRES A VOTE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY.
THANKS, JIM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE HAVE ONE -- YES, WE HAVE ONE MEMBER 
OF THE PUBLIC WHO WILL SPEAK, AND WE'LL TAKE UP CHANGE 
AFTER THE PUBLIC'S COMMENTS, AND WE'LL HAVE A QUORUM ON 
THOSE NECESSARY ITEMS.
AND I'LL ALSO READ INTO THE RECORD -- WE'LL GET A SECOND ON 
THAT.
ALSO READ INTO THE RECORD FROM COMMISSIONER SHARPE, I WILL 
NOT BE AT THE MEETING DUE TO CAR PROBLEMS AND WILL BE ALSO 
ATTENDING THE CHARLIE -- COUNCILMAN MIRANDA'S WIFE'S 
FUNERAL.
>>JIM NORMAN:  MOVE THE CHANGES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SECOND.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  VERY GOOD.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE PUBLIC --
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE HAVE ONE PERSON 
THIS MORNING, AND THAT'S NANETTE O'HARA.
WELCOME.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> I WON'T TAKE THAT LONG.
MY NAME IS NANETTE O'HARA.
I WORK FOR THE TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM, AND I JUST WANTED 
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GOOD DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION 
LAST WEEK OF LOCAL FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS, AND 
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF HOLLY GREENING, OUR DIRECTOR WHO 
COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, AND I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT 
WHEN YOU GET TO THAT ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA, IF YOU SHOULD 
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ESTUARY PROGRAM'S PROCESS OR 
OUR MODEL ORDINANCE, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
THANK YOU.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU, MA'AM.
DAVE JELLERSON.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONS.
TODAY ALL I HAVE TO REPORT ON IS THE COMMITTEE HAS GONE 
THROUGH AND COMPLETED A REVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE BYLAWS AND 
HAS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MODIFICATIONS, AND THESE 
CHANGES WILL NEED A VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE -- BY THIS 
COMMISSION.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THOSE IN YOUR PACKAGE.
THE CHANGES -- THERE'S SOME NONSUBSTANTIVE CHANGES, BUT 
THERE'S A FEW THAT ARE MORE SIGNIFICANT, INCLUDING WE'VE 
CLARIFIED TERMS OF SERVICE TO PROVIDE CONTINUED MEMBERSHIP 
UNTIL REPLACEMENT BY A COMMISSIONER.
THIS WILL ALLOW CONTINUITY FOLLOWING ELECTIONS UNTIL A NEW 
COMMISSIONER HAS A CHANCE TO MAKE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS, 
SO WE WOULD HAVE THE PREVIOUS MEMBER CONTINUE SERVING UNTIL 
SUCH APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE.
THE NEXT ONE IS CLARIFICATION OF THE PROCESS FOR 
REPLACEMENT OR REAFFIRMATION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE 
MISSED MORE THAN THREE MEETINGS IN A YEAR.
AND THEN THE FINAL SECTION ADDED IS NEW PROVISIONS TO 
CLARIFY THAT ANY MEMBER WHEN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE 
COMMITTEE SHALL ONLY REPRESENT OFFICIAL COMMITTEE POSITIONS 
TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR THAT -- WHEN THEY'RE SPEAKING FOR 
THE COMMITTEE OR PRIVATE -- OR PERSONALLY.
YOU HAVE COPIES OF THE PROPOSED REVISIONS, AND SHOULD YOU 
DESIRE, I'M PREPARED TO REVIEW EACH CHANGE.
WE CAN BRING THEM UP ON THE BOARD.
OTHERWISE, IF YOU DON'T NEED THAT, I WOULD JUST REQUEST 
APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SO MOVE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.
>> THANK YOU.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>JIM NORMAN:  MOVE THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT AGENDA 
EXCEPT FOR "F."
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SECOND.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER 
HIGGINBOTHAM, YOUR VOTE DIDN'T REGISTER.
THANK YOU.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  LET'S TAKE UP ITEM "F" QUICKLY, AND 
THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO --
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THE REASON WHY I PULLED THIS PARTICULAR 
ITEM IS THAT I JUST WANTED THE STAFF TO EXPLAIN THAT -- HOW 
THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT WOULD BE FUNDED IF STATE FUNDING 
WERE CUT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PART OF THE CLEAN-UP PROCESS 
AND PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE, SO I JUST KIND 
OF WANTED TO GIVE THEM -- GIVE US A BRIEF EXPLANATION, THE 
PUBLIC, HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF STATE FUNDING IS CUT TO 
THE PROGRAM.
>>RICK GARRITY:  YES, COMMISSIONER.
AND HOOSHANG, WHY DON'T YOU HELP US WITH THIS.
BUT GENERALLY THE -- ITEM "F" IS FOR THE ACTUAL CONTRACT 
WITH THE STATE.
THE FUNDING IS SEPARATE, AND AS RICK TSCHANTZ WILL POINT 
OUT IN HIS ITEM ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, IT COULD BE IN 
DANGER, BUT THE FUNDING IS WHAT IT IS WHEN IT COMES TO US.
IF THE FUNDING IS NOT SUFFICIENT, WE HAVE TO CUT THE 
PROGRAM, BUT HOOSHANG.
>>HOOSHANG BOOSTANI:  GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
HOOSHANG BOOSTANI, EPC STAFF.
THESE CONTRACTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE INLAND PROTECTION 
TRUST FUND, THE IPTF, AND SO FAR, SINCE '86, IT'S BEEN A 
VERY SOLID TRUST FUND UNTIL THIS YEAR WHEN IT WAS CHANGED, 
REDUCED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
IF THERE IS NO FUNDING, THAT MEANS THERE IS NO PROGRAM, BUT 
WE DON'T EXPECT THE FUNDING TO GO AWAY.
IT'S REDUCED THIS YEAR.
WE HOPE THAT IT WILL RETURN TO THE NORMAL FUNDING AFTER THE 
SESSION, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE 
LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO DO.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IF THERE IS NO FUNDING, THERE 
IS NO PROGRAM.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
SO WE DON'T -- FROM THE COUNTY'S POSITION, THERE'S NOT 
ANY -- WE WOULD NOT BE LIABLE BY ENTERING INTO THIS 
CONTRACT AND HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BUDGETING FOR THESE 
EXPENSES --
>>HOOSHANG BOOSTANI:  NO.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  -- IF STATE FUNDING DID NOT COME THROUGH?
>>HOOSHANG BOOSTANI:  STATE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO FUND THE 
PROGRAM, SO IF THERE IS NO FUNDING, THERE IS NO CONTRACT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
I'LL MOVE THE ITEM.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE HAVE A MOTION MADE AND SECOND ON 
ITEM "F."
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.
AND TO THAT --
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
AND COMMISSIONER BECKNER, I'VE HAD MEETINGS ALREADY WITH 
DR. GARRITY AND STAFF IN REGARDS TO THIS TO MONITOR, AND 
WE'LL BEGIN MONITORING THIS DURING COMMITTEE WEEKS IN 
JANUARY IN A FOLLOW-THROUGH SESSION AND LOOK FOR ANY BRIGHT 
LIGHT THAT THERE MAY BE ON THIS ITEM.
RECOGNIZING WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES IN THE AGENDA, WE'LL GO 
TO RICK TSCHANTZ.
>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ:  COMMISSIONERS, I THINK MAYBE YOU NEED 
A FULL VOTE ON THE REST OF THE CONSENT ITEMS.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WE DID.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE DID.
>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ:  THAT WAS COVERED?
OKAY.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YEAH, WE DID THAT AFTER JELLERSON.
>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ:  OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM IS REGARDING THE CONTRACT OF THE 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
IN OCTOBER YOU EVALUATED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AS YOU DO 
ANNUALLY ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.
THIS ITEM IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION FOR RENEWAL OF THE 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S CONTRACT WHICH EXPIRES JULY 1st OF 
2010.
THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS FROM THE YEAR 2000, AND THE 
AVERAGE EXTENSION HAS BEEN THREE-YEAR RENEWALS, AND THE 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS AGAIN REQUESTING THAT THE COMMISSION 
CONSIDER EXTENDING THE TERM OF THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS TO JULY 1st OF 2013.
THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT EXCEPT FOR 
THE TERM, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HAS NOT HAD ANY SALARY 
OR MERIT INCREASE IN THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.
AND THAT IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF THIS EXTENSION.
THIS IS MERELY FOR AN EXTENSION.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, GIVEN THE PERFORMANCE THAT 
DR. GARRITY HAS SHOWN AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO 
INCREASES AND NO CHANGES, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MOVE A 
RECOMMENDATION THAT WE EXTEND IT FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS 
AS --
>> SECOND.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AS --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THERE'S A MOTION MADE TO ACCEPT AND 
EXTEND THE CONTRACT FOR THREE YEARS AND A SECOND -- BY 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA AND MOTION SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER 
BECKNER.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ:  THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
THE NEXT ITEM IS RELATED TO THE CONTRACT THAT COMMISSIONER 
BECKNER PULLED ON THE INLAND PROTECTION TRUST FUND.
THIS -- THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION DOES BEGIN MARCH 2nd.
THE EPC BOARD HAS ESTABLISHED POLICY ABOUT THE EPC 
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND THE POLICY ALLOWS THE CHAIR TO 
ISSUE POSITION LETTERS ON LEGISLATIVE ISSUES IN 
CONSULTATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
WHEN THERE'S TIME TO BRING ISSUES TO THE FULL BOARD, 
POSITION PAPERS ARE BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD, AND 
SINCE WE'RE BEFORE THE SESSION HAS STARTED AND WE ALREADY 
KNOW THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE THAT MAY AFFECT 
EPC, WE'RE BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD NOW TO HOPEFULLY OBTAIN 
A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR REGARDING THIS ITEM ON THE INLAND 
PROTECTION TRUST FUND FUNDING.
THE FUND IS FUNDED BY GASOLINE TAXES, AND IT IS USED 
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CLEAN-UP OF UNDERGROUND PETROLEUM 
TANKS THAT ARE LEAKING.
IT'S A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM, IT'S A VERY BENEFICIAL 
PROGRAM, AND IT COLLECTS ABOUT $200 MILLION A YEAR FROM -- 
FROM THE GASOLINE TAXES.
EPC HAS HAD A CONTRACT WITH DEP TO ADMINISTER THE CLEAN-UP 
PROGRAM, AND THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY TEN EMPLOYEES AT EPC 
THAT HELP ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM OUT OF THIS FUNDING; 
HOWEVER, THE LAST SESSION THE LEGISLATURE REMOVED ALL OF 
THE FUNDING FROM THIS FUND TO USE IT FOR SHORTFALLS IN THE 
GENERAL FUND, AND AT THE LAST MOMENT THEY PUT $10 MILLION 
BACK INTO THE FUND IN ORDER TO ISSUE A BOND FOR $90 MILLION 
TO AT LEAST HAVE THE PROGRAM CONTINUE IN SOME FORM, SO 
BASICALLY IT'S GOING ALONG NOW AT ABOUT HALF ITS FUNDING, 
AND THOSE ARE BORROWED FUNDS.
SO THAT HAS RESULTED IN A DRASTIC SLOW-DOWN IN THE CLEAN-
UPS THAT WERE ABLE TO OCCUR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND 
THIS IS A DIRECT THREAT TO DRINKING WATER.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR TODAY IS THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE THE 
CHAIR SIGN A LETTER THAT WOULD BE SENT TO CERTAIN KEY 
LEGISLATORS REGARDING THIS FUND, THE INLAND PROTECTION 
TRUST FUND, AND ASKING THAT IT BE RESTORED TO FULL FUNDING.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D BE HAPPY TO MOVE THAT 
REQUEST.
>> SECOND.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND MADE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  JUST -- I WAS WONDERING --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  -- IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE COMMENT TO 
THAT.
DO YOU NEED ANY -- DO WE NEED TO GIVE STAFF ANY OTHER 
AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THE LEGISLATORS TO 
EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE PROGRAM, TO HAVE DIRECT DISCUSSIONS 
WITH THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM?
>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ:  THAT -- IF THAT COULD BE PART OF THE 
MOTION THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE RATHER THAN JUST A 
LETTER, WE CAN -- WE CAN THEN HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GO OUT 
AND SPEAK TO LEGISLATORS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, YES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, LET'S ADD THAT AS AN 
AMENDMENT.
>> GREAT.
SECOND.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  VERY GOOD.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE WETLANDS AND WATERSHED 
MANAGEMENT.
IN PARTICULAR WE'RE ADDRESSING THE UPDATE ON FERTILIZER 
USE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HELD A MEETING -- WORKSHOP LAST WEEK AND 
HAD, I THINK, VERY VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT INPUT FROM 
INDUSTRY, FROM SCIENCE, EDUCATORS, AND LEADERS WITHIN THE 
COMMUNITY WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND THE DIRECTION 
TODAY AS TAKEN FROM THE MEETING LAST WEEK WAS TO ESTABLISH 
SOME WORKSHOPS TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION IN DRAFTING AN 
ORDINANCE OR RULE, AN EPC RULE, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS 
IN SOME MANNER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF NITROGEN.
DR. GARRITY.
>>RICK GARRITY:  THAT'S RIGHT, COMMISSIONER.
AND WE HAD A VERY -- I THOUGHT VERY PRODUCTIVE WORKSHOP, 
AND THE STAFF THANKS YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU 
MADE ABOUT THAT -- THAT TOPIC, AND IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH 
SENATE BILL 494, REQUIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH NUTRIENT-
IMPAIRED WATER TO ADOPT EITHER THE FDEP MODEL FERTILIZER 
ORDINANCE OR SOMETHING MORE STRINGENT IF IT'S JUSTIFIED BY 
LOCAL CONDITIONS.
THE -- ON THE FIRST SLIDE THERE, THERE'S JUST A RECAP FOR 
YOU, FOUR OPTIONS THAT WE PRESENTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
YOU CAN PICK ONE OF THOSE OR A COMBINATION OF THOSE OR TWO 
OF THOSE AND LET US GO FORWARD WITH WORKSHOPS AND TRY TO 
GET SOME LANGUAGE PUT TOGETHER TO BRING BACK TO YOU.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THE -- EXCUSE ME -- THE NEXT SLIDE WE'VE 
TRIED TO TAKE IN JUST THE LAST WEEK'S TIME PERIOD THE 
COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD FROM LAST WEEK AND ITEMIZE THEM 
HERE.
WHATEVER WE -- WHATEVER WE GO FORWARD WITH, WE WOULD 
INCLUDE ALL OF THE WORK AND ASSIGNMENTS THAT ARE ENUMERATED 
HERE IN THESE COMMENTS, AND THIS WOULD BE PART OF OUR TASKS 
THAT WE'D BE DOING.
FOR INSTANCE, IT WAS SAID BY SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS THAT WE 
SHOULD HAVE A STRONG EDUCATION PROGRAM, THAT YOU WANTED US 
TO BRING BACK MORE INFORMATION ON WHETHER A FOUR-MONTH 
SUMMER RESTRICTION WILL LEAD TO DEGRADATION OF LAWN AND 
THUS POSSIBLY MORE RUNOFF INTO THE WATERWAYS, YOU WANTED US 
TO WORK WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES TO MAKE THE REGULATION 
SUCCESSFUL.
IS IT POSSIBLE -- FOUR AND FIVE ARE REALLY SIMILAR.
IS IT POSSIBLE THERE COULD BE A MARKET-BASED SOLUTION WHERE 
YOU CAN HAVE A REPLACEMENT TO A NITROGEN-BASED FERTILIZER?
ENFORCEMENT IS IMPORTANT.
NEXT SLIDE.
BUT ALSO THERE SHOULD BE AN ENFORCEMENT GRACE PERIOD.
WE SHOULD INCORPORATE THE CONCEPT OF SLOW-RELEASE NITROGEN 
INTO WHATEVER WE COME BACK TO YOU WITH.
WE SHOULD NOT BE TARDY AS WE GO FORWARD BUT COME BACK IN A 
TIMELY MANNER WITH INFORMATION FOR YOU AND LANGUAGE FOR 
YOU. ARE THERE ANY PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS TO 
SUPPORT OR REFUTE THE CLAIM THAT NITROGEN FROM LAWNS OR THE 
TURF IS CAUSING RED TIDE OUTBREAKS?
WE NEED TO CLARIFY THE THREE CITIES' POSITION ON THE 
REGULATION.
AND WE NEED TO GO OVER THE PROCESS THAT'S LAID FORTH IN 
SENATE BILL 494 ON HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN ACTUALLY COME 
UP WITH OR ENACT A MORE STRINGENT RULE.
SO WE WOULD PLAN TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS AS WE WORK WITH 
THE PUBLIC ON WORKSHOPS ON WHATEVER YOU DIRECT US TO DO AS 
FAR AS THE OPTIONS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
AND I'M GOING TO PASS THE GAVEL AND MAKE A MOTION HERE, AND 
AS I'M MAKING THIS MOTION, I HAVE A QUESTION.
HOW MANY WORKSHOPS DO YOU INTEND TO HOLD?
>>RICK GARRITY:  WELL, WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY COME UP WITH A 
NUMBER.
WE CAN HOLD PROBABLY AS MANY AS WE NEED TO HOLD TO TRY TO 
BRING MORE CONSENSUS TO THIS ISSUE.
CERTAINLY AT LEAST ONE, PERHAPS TWO.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  ALL RIGHT.
I'LL -- IN MY MOTION I'LL INCLUDE THAT WE HOLD THREE 
WORKSHOPS AND THAT WE ASK STAFF TO INCLUDE AS THEY DRAFT 
THE LOCAL RULE TO INCORPORATE THE ESTUARY'S SUGGESTIONS AS 
WELL AS THE ORANGE COUNTY MODEL AND WORK WITH CONSENSUS, 
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAR NOTIFICATION TO -- TO THOSE 
WHO ARE -- WERE REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, 
SCIENCE, AND INDUSTRY, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO EXPRESSED 
THEIR -- THEIR INTEREST IN THIS AND THAT YOU INCLUDE IN 
THIS -- AS MODERATORS EPC ESTUARY REPRESENTATIVE AND A 
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SCIENCE SIDE SUCH AS WE'VE HAD A 
GREAT DEAL OF INPUT AND HELP FROM THE IFAS STAFF AND 
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.
SO THAT'S MY MOTION.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AND I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
I THINK THAT THAT GIVES US A PRETTY WELL-ROUNDED 
OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO A --
>>JIM NORMAN:  WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT EASY, REAL EASY BECAUSE 
THERE'S NOT A -- WHY DON'T YOU MAKE THE MOTION, I'LL SECOND 
IT, AND YOU CAN STAY AS --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  OKAY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THAT WAY THERE'S REALLY NOBODY TO PASS THE 
GAVEL TO.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  ALL RIGHT.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THAT WAS JUST STATED AND ASK FOR A 
SECOND.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SECOND.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WHO'S ON THIRD BASE?
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YEAH, WHO -- PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
>>RICK GARRITY:  THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
THAT GIVES US GOOD DIRECTION.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
NEXT ON THE --
>>RICK GARRITY:  I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO THE AIR MANAGEMENT 
DIVISION REPORTS NEXT.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YEAH.
>>RICK GARRITY:  AND THAT WILL BE KAY STROTHERS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  GOOD MORNING, MS. STROTHERS.
>>KAY STROTHER:  GOOD MORNING.
KAY STROTHER, EPC STAFF.
I HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR YOU THIS MORNING ON A NOISE 
STUDY THAT STAFF CONDUCTED AT EASTBAY RACEWAY.
FOR SOME BACKGROUND, ON SEPTEMBER 18th OF -- OKAY -- ON 
SEPTEMBER 18th OF LAST YEAR THIS BOARD ENACTED A MAJOR 
REVISION TO EPC'S NOISE RULE.
THE PRIMARY CHANGE TO THAT RULE IS A CHANGE IN OUR 
MEASUREMENT METRIC, AND REALLY WHAT THAT IS IS THE WAY WE 
MEASURE SOUND OVER TIME.
WE ORIGINALLY HAD A RULE THAT HAD AN LMAX STANDARD.
REALLY, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ANY ONE-SECOND VIOLATION OF 
A CERTAIN STANDARD WOULD HAVE BEEN A VIOLATION OF THE RULE.
WE ADDED A TIME COMPONENT TO THAT.
WE MEASURE SOUND NOW OVER TEN MINUTES, AND IT'S CALLED A 
TEN-MINUTE LEQ, AND LEQ IS REALLY JUST A SOUND ENERGY 
AVERAGE OVER A TEN-MINUTE PERIOD OF TIME.
EASTBAY RACEWAY HAS BEEN GRANDFATHERED IN AT 78 DBA LMAX 
STANDARD SINCE THE LATE 1970s.
AT THIS TIME EASTBAY RACEWAY IS THE ONLY EXISTING RACE 
TRACK IN THE COUNTY, AND THE BOARD HAS SET A STANDARD TO 
ALLOW THAT EXISTING TRACK -- THEY'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 
MORE THAN 30 YEARS, SO THIS STANDARD HAS ALLOWED THAT 
EXISTING TRACK TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY, AND THEY STILL MAINTAIN THAT 78 DBA LMAX STANDARD 
IN OUR CURRENT RULE.
REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE IF THE 
RACEWAY CAN COMPLY WITH THE NEW TEN-MINUTE LEQ STANDARD OR 
IF WE SHOULD MAINTAIN THAT GRANDFATHERED LMAX STANDARD OF 
78 DBA.
SO EPC STAFF WENT OUT IN THREE TEAMS OF TWO ALONG WITH A 
CONSULTANT IN THE WINTER -- THIS PAST WINTER OVER THREE 
DAYS DURING SOME OF THE LOUDEST RACES AT THE TRACK.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, YOU CAN SEE I'VE LOCATED EASTBAY 
RACEWAY FOR YOU.
IT'S LOCATED THERE NEXT TO THE MOSAIC GYPSUM STACK JUST OFF 
TO THE WEST WITH A STAR.
TO THE NORTH OF THE TRACK IS MADISON AVENUE.
TO THE WEST IS U.S. 41.
TO THE SOUTH IS RIVERVIEW DRIVE.
TO THE EAST IS 78th STREET.
AND THEN FURTHER OFF TO THE EAST IS I-75.
THE GYPSUM STACK DOES OFFER SOME SORT OF A BARRIER BETWEEN 
THE RACEWAY AND SOME OF THE RESIDENTS.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE WHERE WE SET UP OUR SITES.
TO THE SOUTH IT'S -- IT'S MARKED AS R-1 SOUTH -- WE HAD A 
SITE THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE ALONG 
RIVERVIEW DRIVE AND JUST SOUTH OF THE TRACK ALONG THE 
ALAFIA RIVER MIGHT RECEIVE IN TERMS OF SOUND.
OFF TO THE SOUTHEAST ARE TWO -- IT'S MARKED AS PINEBREEZE.
THERE'S A CIRCULAR DRIVE AREA THERE.
WE HAD A LOT OF RESIDENTS OR SOME RESIDENTS THERE WHO 
COMPLAINED STARTING IN 2004 AND ON INTO 2007.
THAT IS AN AREA OF CONCERN FOR US.
WE WANTED TO BE SURE WE MONITORED THERE.
AND THAT ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS 
FARTHER SOUTH THERE ALONG THE ALAFIA RIVER.
WE ALSO -- STAFF ALSO SET UP A SITE TO THE NORTH, NORTH OF 
THE TRACK, TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SOUND LEVELS WERE TO THE 
NORTH OF THE TRACK TO ANY RESIDENTIAL RECEPTORS TO THE 
NORTH.
THE CONSULTANT SET UP A RESEARCH -- KIND OF RESEARCH 
CONTROL SITE OFF TO THE EAST, DIRECTLY EAST OF THE GYPSUM 
STACK.
NOW, WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THESE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES IS TRIED 
TO COMPRESS A WHOLE LOT OF DATA INTO TWO SLIDES TO GIVE YOU 
SOME IDEAS OF REALLY WHAT THE WORST-CASE SOUND LEVELS ARE 
AT BOTH STANDARDS OUT AT THE TRACK.
THE FIRST ONE, THIS IS THE LMAX STANDARD, THIS IS WHAT 
THEY'RE CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO.
IT'S THE 78 DBA LMAX.
YOU CAN SEE THAT MARKED BY THE RED LINE ON THE CHART, AND 
YOU SEE THAT AT ALL LOCATIONS, AT ALL THE RESIDENTIAL 
RECEPTORS, EASTBAY RACEWAY IS GENERALLY ABLE TO COMPLY WITH 
THAT 78 DBA STANDARD.
NOW, I WANT TO MENTION, YOU NEED TO REMEMBER THAT'S AN 
INSTANTANEOUS STANDARD.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE TRACK WAS RUNNING AT THAT 78 
LEVEL, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE SOUTH ON JANUARY 30th AT ALL 
TIMES, AND IN FACT, THEY WERE ONLY AT THE 78 LEVEL FOR VERY 
SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, LIKE A FEW SECONDS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  HOW LONG A PERIOD OF TIME WAS IT, JUST 
A PEAK OR A BURST?
>>KAY STROTHER:  YES.
IT WAS LIKE A BURST.
IT'S NOT CONSISTENT.
WHEN WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE DATA, IT WAS LIKE MAYBE 
SEVEN SECONDS AT THAT MAXIMUM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  OKAY.
DID THAT GENERATE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORS?
>>KAY STROTHER:  NO.
WE HAD NO COMPLAINTS DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME EXCEPT FOR 
ONE COMPLAINT ON FEBRUARY 14th, AND THE COMPLAINANT WAS 
LOCATED ON THE 14th SOUTH OF PINEBREEZE DRIVE, AND IF YOU 
LOOK AT THE RESULTS FOR PINEBREEZE, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S 
SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW OUR EXISTING STANDARD NOW.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  OKAY.
>>KAY STROTHER:  IF YOU MOVE ON -- HERE'S OUR ANALYSIS OF -
- WE TOOK THE SAME NUMBERS, SAME READINGS, AND ANALYZED 
THEM AT THE LEQ OVER TEN MINUTES.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE TIMES OVER THAT -- IF WE USE 
THAT KIND OF METRIC -- AND CAN YOU ALSO SEE THAT THE 
STANDARD IS MUCH LOWER, THE EXISTING STANDARD, THE TEN-
MINUTE LEQ FOR NIGHTTIME.
THIS IS -- WORST-CASE IS 55.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THAT -- THAT SOUND LEVEL LIMIT IS 
EXCEEDED.
JUST A QUICK REVIEW OF THE COMPLAINT HISTORY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE COMPLAINTS ARE PRETTY STEADY OUT 
THERE, ONE OR TWO COMPLAINTS A YEAR EXCEPT WHEN WE MOVED 
INTO 2004.
IN 2004 THE COMPLAINTS STARTED TO GROW UP -- GO UP, AND 
THIS IS BECAUSE OF THAT PINEBREEZE AREA.
MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS CAME FROM THAT -- THAT STREET.
IT'S A FAIRLY NEW DEVELOPMENT, SO IN 2007 WHAT WE DID IS 
EPC STAFF WENT OUT TO MEET WITH THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION 
OUT THERE.
EASTBAY RACEWAY JOINED US IN THAT MEETING.
WE DISCUSSED OUR REGULATION, EASTBAY RACEWAY EXPLAINED 
THEIR OPERATIONS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO TRY TO REDUCE 
THE SOUND LEVELS, AND AFTER THAT MEETING EASTBAY RACEWAY 
CONTINUED TO TRY TO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB TO KEEP THOSE 
SOUND LEVELS AS LOW AS THEY COULD, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE 
COMPLAINTS HAVE DROPPED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STUDY.
WE FOUND THAT THE A-SCALE ADEQUATELY PICKS UP THE RACE CAR 
SOUNDS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T NEED TO ADD AN OCTAVE BAND 
STANDARD TO THIS.
THE OCTAVE BAND STANDARDS ARE THE LOW-FREQUENCY SOUNDS, THE 
BASE SOUNDS, THINGS THAT WE USE TO DETERMINE WHETHER MUSIC 
COMPLIES.
WE FOUND THAT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE TRACK -- THE 
TRACK WILL NOT MEET THAT NEW TEN-MINUTE LEQ STANDARD, BUT 
UNDER ALMOST ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY CAN MEET THE CURRENT 
STANDARD THAT WE HAVE SET OF 78 DBA LMAX.
SO STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME IS TO MAKE NO 
CHANGES TO THE RULE.
EASTBAY RACEWAY WILL CONTINUE ITS EXISTING OPERATIONS 
SUBJECT TO THE 78 DBA LMAX STANDARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, HOWEVER, THAT ANY NEW EXPANSIONS 
AT THE TRACK WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE NEW TEN-MINUTE LEQ 
STANDARD.
I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME, 
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT AL VARNADORE, WHO IS THE 
PRESIDENT OF EASTBAY RACEWAY, IS OUT HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, 
AND HE'S AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WHAT DOES NEW EXPANSION OF THE TRACK 
MEAN?
>>KAY STROTHER:  ANY ALTERATIONS OF THE TRACK, IF THEY MADE 
THE TRACK BIGGER --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  TO THE TRACK ITSELF, BUT IF THEY HAD TO 
MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BLEACHERS --
>>KAY STROTHER:  -- NEW CARS -- NO, NOT BLEACHERS, ACTUAL 
RACING ACTIVITIES.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  TO ADDRESS -- OKAY.
TO MEET SAFETY STANDARDS, IF THERE WERE NEW RULES TO 
ADDRESS SAFETY STANDARDS, FOR FENCING TO KEEP THE FENCE -- 
PATRONS SAFE, THAT DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING?
>>KAY STROTHER:  NO.
ONLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD AFFECT THE SOUND LEVELS FROM THE 
TRACK.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  OKAY.
ARE YOU A RACE FAN?
>>KAY STROTHER:  NO, I'M NOT, BUT I'VE BEEN OUT THERE.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
>>KAY STROTHER:  THANK YOU.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  AND OUR NEXT REPORT WILL BE ON GENERAL 
CHEMICAL NUISANCE ISSUE.
>>RICK GARRITY:  JASON WATERS, WHO'S ONE OF OUR STAR 
ENGINEERS IN OUR AIR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WILL MAKE THAT 
PRESENTATION.
>>JASON WATERS:  GOOD MORNING.
JASON WATERS, EPC STAFF.
I'M HERE TO GIVE A REPORT ABOUT THE GENERAL CHEMICAL 
FACILITY THAT WE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM DURING THE 
LAST TWO-YEAR PERIOD.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE FACILITY.
THE FACILITY MANUFACTURERS ALUM WHICH IS USED IN WATER 
TREATMENT.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS ACTUALLY A CUSTOMER OF GENERAL 
CHEMICAL.
THEY PURCHASE ALUM FOR THEIR FOUR TREATMENT PLANTS.
TO MAKE ALUM YOU USE BAUXITE ORE, WHICH I BROUGHT A SAMPLE.
IT'S A CLAY -- REDDISH CLAY-LIKE MATERIAL.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN SIMILAR.
AND YOU ALSO USE SULFURIC ACID, AND THEN YOU MAKE THE ALUM 
BY REACTING TO THESE TWO.
ALUM -- THIS IS THE END PRODUCT THAT'S USED IN WATER 
TREATMENT.
IT'S NOT TOXIC.
I WOULDN'T DRINK IT BECAUSE IT IS ACIDIC, BUT IT'S NOT AS 
ACIDIC AS WHITE VINEGAR YOU MIGHT FIND IN YOUR HOUSE.
THE EMISSIONS YOU SEE IN THIS PLUME ON THIS SLIDE, THAT'S 
MAINLY WATER VAPOR.
IT HAS SOME TRACE QUANTITIES OF PARTICULATE LIKE THIS AND 
SOME SULFURIC ACID MIST.
GENERAL CHEMICAL IS LOCATED ON CLARK STREET.
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, IT'S IN THE CENTER OF THIS MAP.
TO THE EAST IS THE CITY OF TAMPA'S RESOURCE RECOVERY 
FACILITY.
TO THE NORTH IS THE CROSSTOWN, TO THE SOUTH IS McKAY BAY.
TWO AREAS OF CONCERN WHERE WE RECEIVED THE COMPLAINTS, TO 
THE WEST IS DESOTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THEN DESOTO PARK 
TO THE SOUTHWEST.
SOME PICTURES OF THE PARK AND THE SCHOOL THAT WERE THE 
AFFECTED AREAS FROM THIS FACILITY.
AND AS A BASIS OF OVER 20 COMPLAINTS WE RECEIVED AT THIS 
FACILITY, WE DID MULTIPLE INSPECTIONS.
THIS FACILITY'S A BATCH PROCESS, MEANING THEY MAKE ONE TO 
TWO BATCHES A DAY.
MOST OF THE EMISSIONS OCCUR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BATCH.
THEY TYPICALLY START ABOUT 4:00 IN THE MORNING AND MAKE A 
BATCH.
SOMETIMES THAT VARIES.
SO WE DID MULTIPLE INSPECTIONS AT THAT TIME TO TIE THE ODOR 
ISSUE WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE BATCH.
AND THEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO 
TAKE THESE PHOTOS OF THE PLUME FUMIGATING THE PARK, AND YOU 
CAN SEE IT'S -- IT WAS QUITE -- IT WAS QUITE BAD THAT 
ACTUAL DAY BECAUSE OF THE -- THE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS 
WERE BRINGING THE PLUME DOWN TO THE GROUND, AND AS A 
RESULT, THAT WAS WHEN WE ISSUED THE WARNING NOTICE.
SO WHAT DID WE DO AFTER THAT?
AFTER THE WARNING NOTICE WAS ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER, IN 
OCTOBER WE WENT TO THE PALMETTO BEACH COMMUNITY 
ASSOCIATION, GAVE THEM A PRESENTATION ABOUT THIS FACILITY -
- MOST OF THE COMPLAINANTS WERE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY 
ASSOCIATION -- AND TOLD THEM HOW WE WERE GOING TO MOVE 
FORWARD.
THE NEXT STEP WAS WE MET WITH THE COMPANY AND WE GAVE THEM 
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH EPC.
THE COMPANY EXPLAINED TO US THAT THEY HAD 30-PLUS ALUM 
PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES MANUFACTURING ALUM FOR WATER 
TREATMENT.
THEY DID TELL US ABOUT A HALF A DOZEN OF THOSE HAD 
SCRUBBERS ON THEM TO REMOVE THE POLLUTION.
WE ASKED THEM COULD YOU INSTALL THAT HERE AT TAMPA EVEN 
THOUGH THIS WAS AN OLDER PLANT?
THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SMALLER PLANT, THEY WOULD 
LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK TO US.
ULTIMATELY THE COMPANY CAME BACK AND SAID, WE WILL INSTALL 
A SCRUBBER HERE IN TAMPA AT OUR PLANT.
THEY COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
WE WORKED WITH THEM TO GET A AIR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT TO 
INSTALL THE SCRUBBER, WHICH IS REQUIRED UNDER OUR STATE 
RULES, WHICH WE HAVE DELEGATION.
WE ISSUED THAT CONSTRUCTION PERMIT.
THE COST WAS ABOUT $250,000, WHICH THEY AGREED TO DO ON 
THEIR OWN.
SINCE THE COMPANY AGREED TO INSTALL THE SCRUBBING SYSTEM WE 
DID NOT PURSUE ENFORCEMENT PENALTIES FOR THIS.
THE COMPANY INSTALLED THEIR SCRUBBING SYSTEM IN JULY OF 
THIS YEAR, AND THEY TESTED IT, AND JUST LAST MONTH WE 
ISSUED THE OPERATION PERMIT, WHICH REQUIRES THE CONTINUING 
USE OF THE SCRUBBING SYSTEM.
WHAT THAT SCRUBBING SYSTEM DOES IS IT'S BASICALLY -- IT 
TAKES ALL THE EMISSIONS THAT COME OFF FROM THAT, IT GOES 
THROUGH A CHAMBER WHERE WATER MIST IS APPLIED AND A SERIES 
OF FILTERS, AND THAT WATER IS COLLECTED IN A DRUM AND IT'S 
REUSED FOR THE NEXT BATCH, SO IT'S NOT CREATING AN 
ADDITIONAL WASTE STREAM, SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT.
HERE'S SOME PICTURES OF BEFORE AND AFTER.
THERE'S QUITE A DRAMATIC CHANGE.
IF YOU SEE THE BEFORE SHOT, A LOT OF THE EMISSIONS ARE 
COMING OUT OF THE DOOR.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN GOING THROUGH THE STACK.
AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE SCRUBBER, PART OF THAT WAS A 
FAN WHICH ACTUALLY COLLECTS THOSE EMISSIONS AND FORCES ALL 
OF THEM THROUGH THE SCRUBBING SYSTEM, AND YOU CAN SEE THE -
- IF YOU SEE WHAT'S COMING OUT THE DOOR, THE PLUME WAS 
PROBABLY THAT THICK COMING OUT THE STACK.
IN THE RIGHT-HAND PICTURE YOU'LL SEE THAT IT WAS A LITTLE 
OVERCAST THAT DAY, BUT YOU CAN STILL SEE THE PLUME IS 
GREATLY REDUCED, AND THERE'S NO EMISSIONS FROM THE DOOR.
AS A RESULT OF THIS FIRST PICTURE THAT WE TOOK, GENERAL 
CHEMICAL NOT ONLY LOOKED AT THIS FACILITY, THEY WENT BACK 
AND LOOKED AT ALL THE OTHER 30-PLUS PLANTS THAT THEY HAVE 
TO SEE IF THIS TYPE OF SCENARIO WAS OCCURRING AND ARE 
TAKING STEPS TO CORRECT SOME OF THEIR OTHER FACILITIES IN 
OTHER STATES.
SO WHAT WAS THE RESULT?
WHEN WE DID THE TEST IT REDUCED THE PARTICULATE EMISSIONS 
FROM THIS FACILITY APPROXIMATELY 90% AND SULFURIC ACID MIST 
EMISSIONS BY APPROXIMATELY 50%, AND PROBABLY THE ACTUAL 
REDUCTIONS ARE GREATER THAN THAT BECAUSE WHEN THE TEST WAS 
DONE BEFORE, THOSE EMISSIONS COMING OUT THE DOOR WERE NOT 
INCLUDED IN THE TEST, AND NOW ALL OF THOSE EMISSIONS ARE 
BEING VENTED THROUGH THE SCRUBBER AND ARE BEING CONTROLLED.
WE HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE 
SCRUBBING SYSTEM.
WE HAD A FOLLOW-UP MEETING LAST MONTH ABOUT ALMOST EXACTLY 
A YEAR LATER, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 
SAID THE SITUATION WAS GREATLY IMPROVED IN THAT AREA.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
>>JASON WATERS:  THANK YOU.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO THE EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
>>RICK GARRITY:  YES.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  AND MR. WOODARD HAS A REPORT ON 
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.
WELCOME.
WHILE HE'S COMING FORWARD, COMMISSIONER BECKNER, IS THERE 
ANYBODY SPECIAL YOU'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE IN THE AUDIENCE?
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  WELL, NOW THAT YOU MENTIONED IT, MR. 
CHAIR, I'D JUST LIKE TO WELCOME MY PARENTS, WHO CAME DOWN 
HERE FROM THE WARM PART OF INDIANA TO BE WITH US TODAY, AND 
THAT WAS ACTUALLY A LITTLE FACETIOUS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WOULD THEY LIKE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK?
[LAUGHTER]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  I THINK THEY HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON 
EMISSIONS AND THE FERTILIZER ORDINANCE, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO 
HAVE YOU FOLKS HERE.
YOU HAVE TO BE PROUD OF YOUR SON.
ALL RIGHT.
>>STERLIN WOODARD:  GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME'S STERLIN WOODARD, EPC STAFF, AND I'M THE AGENCY'S 
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, AND I'M HERE TO 
GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE COUNTY'S CONTINUING EFFORTS TO 
COMPLY WITH OUR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN.
NOW, THE PURPOSE OF THE COUNTY'S AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN IS 
ACTUALLY TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND UNIFORM APPROACH TO 
ALL THE COUNTY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT 
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES.
THE PLAN WAS FIRST DEVELOPED BACK IN 1977, AND WE'RE 
ACTUALLY CURRENTLY ON THE SEVENTH REVISION OF THAT PLAN.
IT'S REQUIRED BY THE PLAN TO BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS, 
AND IT'S DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE APPLY AFFIRMATIVE 
ACTIONS -- CERTAIN AFFIRMATIVE ACTIONS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ALL THE WORKERS.
THE BOC APPROVED THIS LAST REVISION BACK IN JULY OF 2008, 
AND IT APPLIES TO ALL THE 22 COUNTY AGENCIES THAT ARE UNDER 
THE CIVIL SERVICE PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES THE EPC.
THE PLAN REQUIRES THAT EVERY YEAR WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT OUR 
WORKFORCE AND COMPARE IT TO THE LABOR STATISTICS IN OUR -- 
IN OUR -- IN OUR MARKET, AND THAT INCLUDES THE HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY, PINELLAS COUNTY AREA, BUT WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT 
BASED ON RACE, GENDER, AND COMPARE IT TO CERTAIN JOB 
CLASSIFICATIONS LIKE ADMINISTRATORS AND OFFICIALS, 
TECHNICIANS, PROFESSIONALS, THAT TYPE OF THING.
WE'RE ACTUALLY HAPPY TO SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A 
REDUCTION IN OUR STAFF FROM ABOUT 154 TO 137 FULL-TIME 
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, THE NUMBER OF BLACKS, WOMEN, AND 
HISPANICS HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED OVER THAT TIME PERIOD, SO 
THAT'S REALLY A GOOD THING IN THIS -- IN THIS TOUGH LABOR 
MARKET.
THE NUMBER OF SMALLER MINORITY GROUPS, ASIAN-PACIFIC 
ISLANDERS, NATIVE AMERICANS, HAS REMAINED FAIRLY CONSTANT 
AT AROUND THE SAME NUMBERS, BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE 
A VERY, VERY DIVERSE WORKFORCE THAT INCLUDES A LOT OF 
DIFFERENT MINORITIES.
THE THING IS, THOUGH, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE 
WORK GROUP, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS AS FAR AS 
THE SPECIFIC JOB CATEGORIES WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE 
TO DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE 
PLAN ALLOWS US TO DO IS TO CONTINUE THOSE AFFIRMATIVE 
ACTIONS THAT ARE LISTED IN THERE, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, 
ONE OF THE ONES IS TO REQUIRE THAT ALL THE SKILLS AND JOBS 
THAT ARE REQUIRED TO DO A PARTICULAR JOB ARE NOT BASED ON 
AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL OR EXPERIENCE 
REQUIREMENTS BUT THAT WE BASE THEM -- THE MINIMUM 
QUALIFICATIONS NEED TO BE BASED ON THE JOBS AND THE SKILLS 
AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT'S JUST REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB 
BECAUSE WHAT THEY'VE FOUND IS IS THAT EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE 
AND ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS TENDS TO SOMETIMES CAUSE ADVERSE 
REACTIONS TO MINORITY GROUPS.
SO OUR AGENCY IS CONTINUING TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUR NUMBER OF 
MINORITIES, AND WE BELIEVE WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF 
PROVIDING A DIVERSE WORK GROUP.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  DR. GARRITY, EPC MISSION, VISION, AND 
VALUES.
>>RICK GARRITY:  YES.
AND ELAINE, IF YOU COULD FLIP THAT SLIDE UP THERE.
WE JUST WANTED TO BRING THE BOARD UP-TO-DATE ON OUR STAFF 
ATTEMPT TO COME UP WITH A MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES 
STATEMENT FOR THE AGENT.
WE'VE COME UP WITH SOME STATES THAT ARE SHORT AND SUCCINCT 
AND TO THE POINT, HOPEFULLY ONES THAT WE CAN ALL REMEMBER.
WE'LL BE GIVING POP QUIZZES TO THE DIVISION DIRECTORS FROM 
TIME TO TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN RECITE THESE.
THE MISSION IS PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THROUGH LOCAL CONTROL AND REGULATION OF 
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE REASONABLY EXPECTED TO CAUSE POLLUTION.
OUR VISION IS TO PROVIDE ENHANCED RESOURCE PROTECTION USING 
STATE-OF-THE-ART SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE 
AND EFFICIENT SERVICE.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THINGS WELL 
AS PROTECTING THE RESOURCE AND DOING THINGS EFFICIENTLY, 
AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITH THE STATE OF THE 
ECONOMY.
THE VALUES ARE SORT OF LIKE ETHICAL VALUES OF INTEGRITY, 
HONESTY, AND A CULTURE OF FAIRNESS AND COOPERATION.
AND WE'LL BE PURSUING THESE THREE ITEMS THROUGH THE NEXT 
YEAR AND YEARS TO COME.
I JUST WANTED YOU-ALL TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
AND ACTUALLY, THEY ARE INTERSPERSED LIKE A SUBLIMINAL 
MESSAGE IN THE RACK CARD THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, WHICH WE 
HAVE JUST COMPLETED.
THIS IS OUR LATEST ATTEMPT TO KIND OF SUMMARIZE 
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE COUNTY, AND WE'VE GONE FROM -- 
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN WE PRODUCED A TRIFOLD DOCUMENT, 
WE'VE GONE FROM THAT COSTING $2- OR $3,000 TO THIS CARD FOR 
1500 COPIES IS UNDER $400.
THIS HAS BEEN PRODUCED ENTIRELY IN-HOUSE WITH THE AID OF 
ALL OF OUR STAFFPEOPLE THAT PRODUCED THE ACTUAL INFORMATION 
FOR THE CARD, BUT I HAVE TO REALLY THANK MICHELLE JENKINS 
OF THE AIR MANAGEMENT STAFF WHO DID THE LAYOUT OF THE CARD 
AND REALLY DID THE -- MOST OF THE WORK AND THE PREPARATION.
AND ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS TO KERRY COLLIN, WHO IS WORKING 
WITH THE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WHO HELPED A 
GREAT DEAL WITH THE LAYOUT, AND IT WAS PRINTED BY THE 
COUNTY FOR US ALSO.
SO THE CARD DOES GO OVER THE MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES.
IT GOES OVER SUCCESSES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR PROGRAMS, 
INCLUDING SUCCESSES IN HABITAT RESTORATION, WETLANDS 
PROTECTION, THE BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, AIR AND 
WATER MONITORING PROGRAMS, AND WE ARE SO PROUD THAT -- OF 
THE AIR AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE 
IN EPC.
THEY'RE AMONG THE BEST IN THE ENTIRE NATION.
ALSO OUR CERTIFIED LABORATORY THAT CONDUCTS OVER 50,000 
AIR, WATER, AND SOIL SAMPLES ANNUALLY, AND OUR WASTE 
MANAGEMENT SECTION THAT INSPECTS OVER 5,000 STORAGE TANKS 
AND SOLID WASTE SYSTEMS ANNUALLY.
BUT THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE.
THERE'S CHALLENGES, AND THE CHALLENGES ARE IN THE IMPAIRED 
WATERS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ENDLESSLY AT THESE MEETINGS, 
BUT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE'LL HAVE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION 
TO IN THE FUTURE, AND ALSO AIR QUALITY WITH MORE STRINGENT 
STANDARDS LOOMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THESE CARDS?
WE'RE GOING TO DO MAIL-OUTS.
THIS IS AVAILABLE ON-LINE ALREADY ON OUR WEB SITE THANKS TO 
ELAINE DELEEUW'S WORK.
WE'LL BE DISTRIBUTING TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, 
HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS, WE'LL HAVE SOME IN YOUR RECEPTION 
AREA FOR THE -- THE COMMISSIONERS' RECEPTION AREA, AND 
COMMISSIONER WHITE EVEN SUGGESTED THAT WE TRY TO GET WITH 
THE NEWSPAPERS AND SEE IF WE CAN DO NEWSPAPER INSERTS, AND 
WE'LL BE SEEING IF WE CAN DO THAT TOO.
BUT WE -- THIS IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
AND THAT'S MY PRESENTATION.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
SEEING THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, TWO THINGS I 
WANT TO CLOSE OUT WITH.
THE AGENDA -- LOOKING FORWARD TO THE JANUARY MEETING, THERE 
ARE NO PENDING ITEMS THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED IN JANUARY, 
AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO HOLD A MEETING IN FEBRUARY 
STARTING OUT THE NEW YEAR.
AND JUST TO THANK THE EPC STAFF AND ESPECIALLY JOYCE FOR 
ALL YOU DO TO HELP, ESPECIALLY IN THE CULTURE OF FAIRNESS 
BECAUSE YOU'RE ON THE HOT SEAT WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THE -- 
TODAY JUST ONE, BUT HELPING ME WITH THE THINGS I DO AS 
CHAIRMAN OF THE -- OF THE MEETINGS HERE, AND I WANT TO 
THANK YOU PERSONALLY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE, AND 
YOU DO A GREAT JOB, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FROM MY --
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  NO, BUT I WAS GOING TO -- IF YOU'D LET 
ME, MR. NORMAN, I WAS GOING TO SAY FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS 
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
WE'LL SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY.
>>RICK GARRITY:  THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  MEETING ADJOURNED.


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